Can opener



Feb. 18, 1941. v. c. LUPPERT CAN OPENER Filed Sept. 20, 1939 f 0, 3. a M .a 1 w 2 IA/ i a w :..K. A f

KCMz/Pper Patented Feb. 18, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CAN OPENER VValentine C. Luppert, Williamsport, Pa. Application September 20, 1939, Serial No. 295,818

9 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in container opening devices, and more particularly to improvements in a punch opener for producing a pouring opening in containers having projecting end seams or joints.

Can openers of this type have heretofore been proposed in which a substantial pouring opening is produced in a wall of the container by a single stroke or turning movement of the opener. The

patents to Sampson et al., 1,996,550, and Leppke, 2,046,879, disclose openers particularly suited for this purpose. However, it has been found that such devices are objectionable for opening beer cans. It is well known that beer and many other beveragesrelease considerable gas unless maintained at a low temperature, and that the pressure of the opener on a wall of the can causes a substantial depression of said wall before the metal is ruptured. Therefore, when the go tool penetrates the metal of the cam there is often a tendency for the beverages to spurt up with considerable force, resulting'in a waste of the beverage and possible damage to clothes and furniture.

u It is therefore the primary object of my invention to provide a can opener having means for initially controlling the discharge of gas and/or liquid from the can before making the pouring opening. t

Another object is to furnish a can opener adapted to work on theA lever principle and which employs an end seam of the can as a fulcrum or pivot point about which the tool may be rocked, first into piercing or puncturing position,

and then into cutting position, in a single arcuate movement.

A further object is to provide a container opener having a piercing element and a cutting element, the latter forming a baille for deecting gas or liquidspurting through the opening first formed by the piercing element.

A still further object is to provide a can opener of the rocker type in which the fulcrum means may be employed for engaging the underside of a bottle cap for removing the latter from a bottle.

Still another object is to provide a can opener of the rocker type whose operating parts may be formed out of a single piece of steel or other suitable material, or maybe made of separate 50 elements or different materials and readily assembled by a few simple die or riveting opera tions.

With the foregoing objects outlined and with other objects in view 4which will appear as the u description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features hereinafter described in detail, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing: l

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the opener and a container, with parts broken away and in section, showing the opener in full lines pivotally positioned upon an end seam during the piercing operation, and in dotted lines during the cutting 10 operation.

Fig. 2 is a perspective View of one form of my improved opener.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view oi the opener shown in Fig. 2, and a container, with parts 15 broken away and in section, showing the opener ready to start the cutting operation, after the piercing operation has been completed.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modified form of my opener. 20

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the opener shown in Fig. 4. l

Figs. 6 and 7 are sectional and perspective views, respectively, with parts broken away in 1Fig. 6, of a further modification of my inven- 25 ion.

Referring to the drawing, 8 designates a sheet metal can of the type in which beer and similar beverages are packaged at the present time, and having a bead 9 seamed thereto.

In all the Vembodiments of theinvention shown in the drawing, the opener comprises a body or handle part I0 of substantially rectangular configuration and cross section and of a thickness andwidth which insures suiiicient strength with- 35 out superfluous weight. The handle is preferably formed from a single plate of inexpensive tool steel or other suitable material and is of a length which is in excess of the width of the average adults hand, and the edges and lcorners thereof are rounded or smoothed off to eliminate sharp edges or corners which might injure the hand of the user.

One end of the handle is curved as shown at Il and tapered to provide a substantially V- 45 shaped cutter head or blade I2, the side edges I3 of which are beveled upwardly and inwardly to provide sharp cutting edges. The edges -I3 of the cutter head converge toward a sharp cutting point Il which, in the embodiments shown in Figs. 1 to 3 and 6 and 7, is iirst to come into eutting operation.

A shouldered pin l5, having a shank I6 of'reduced diameter, whch extends through a bore I1 in the handle I9, is riveted to the latter and cony 55 stitutes the fulcrum means for the tool. The shoulder I8 of the pin is adapted to be engaged under the edge of the seam or bead 9 to establish a fulcrum about which the tool may be swung to press the cutter head I2 firmly against the can top and cut therein a substantially V-shaped pouring opening. As seen. in Figs. 2 and '7, the front and rear edges of the shoulderV IB may be ground off slightly to provide wider bearing surfaces I9 againstthe edge of a seam or the edge of a bottle cap, depending on the particular container to be opened.

Thepresent invention consists in applying to the described tool a piercing prong or spur 20 adapted to pierce or puncture a vent opening in,

the can wall before the cutter blade I2 actually comes into contact with said wall, whereby when the tool is rocked pivotally about the container rim, in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1, the canv wall will first be punctured by said prong to permit gas and/or liquid spurting upwardly to escape before the pouring opening is` formed.

The prong 20 may be riveted or otherwise firmly secured to the cutter head I2, with its free end projecting outwardly from the underside of said head. This prong is disposed between, and in alignment with, the cutting point I4 of the blade and the fulcrumpin I5, and is vof sufiicient length to insure the puncture of the can wall when the tool is rocked as above described, before the cutter point I4 contacts said wall. In other words, the prong extends beyond the plane between the point I4 and the fulcrum means I5.

In order to prevent the prong from being forced through the bore 2l in the cutter head during the piercing operation, a shoulder or collar 22 is provided on said prong and abuts against the undersurface of the cutter head.

As may be seen from Fig. 3. the free end oi the prong 20 is beveled to provide a sharp cutting point 23, thebeveled surface being that which is nearest the fulcrum pin I5, so that as the handle is swung in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1, the opening formed by the prong is gradually enlarged with the beveled surface of the prong rolling the metal of the can toward the fulcrum point of the tool. With a structure of this character, as clearly seen from Fig. 3, the gas escaping from the can will necessarily ow upwardly and forwardly towards the cutting point I4 of the cutter head, the latter being imperforate between the prong 20 and said cutting point. Thus, the cutter head will act as a baille to deect such gas and/or liquid towards the side edges of the cutter head. Of course, if desired, a relatively small vent opening may be formed with the prong 20 in the top of the can to allow the gas to seep out slowly before the tool is swung to its cutting position. In this manner, due to the fact that the cutter head I2 is disposed directly above the opening formed by the prong 20, the operator of the tool will be. protected from the spurting gas or liquid from the can. After the gas pressure has been relieved from the can through the vent opening, the operator may continue the upward movement of the handle I to perform the cutting operation, without danger of being sprayed by the gas and/or liquid in the can. v

As heretofore pointed out, the handle or body I0 of the opener, together with the cutter head I2 may be formed .from a single plate of relatively inexpensive tool steel or other suitable material. Of course, through continued use of y openers of this type, the cutting edges/I3 and cutting point I4'soon become dull and, as the tool is made of relatively inexpensive steel, it often becomes necessary to sharpen the cutting edges and point I4. To eliminate the necessity of frequent sharpening operations, I provide an auxiliary cutting blade of relatively hard tempered steel which will maintain its sharp cutting edges for a period longer than those heretofore proposed.

In Figs. 4 and 5 I have illustrated a can opener of this type having an auxiliary cutting blade 24 of tempered steel. The blade 24 conforms to the configuration of the conventional cutter head of openers of this type, and may be permanently or detaohably secured thereto by means of the prong 20. To provide a detachable connection for said auxiliary blade 24, the shank 25 of the piercing prong 20 may be threaded into the bore 25 of the cutter head, with the shoulder 22 engaging the undersurface of the blade 24. On the other hand, if desired, the blade may be secured to the cutter head I2 by riveting the prong to said cutter head, as shown in Figs. i and 5. In order to prevent the auxiliary blade 24 from turning about the prong 20, thelblade may be welded to the cutter head. Another method of preventing the auxiliary blade from turning about the prong 20 is shown in Figs. 4 and 5, wherein the handle I0 is bent upwardly as shown at 26 to provide a pocket or recess 2l into which the inner end portion of theblade 24 engages. such that the inner end thereof abuts against the walls of the recess 21 so that the blade is prevented from turning.

In this modification of the invention, the auxiliary cutting blade 24 may also include the fulcrum means for the tool. For this purpose, the -inner end 28 of the `blade isturned over toward its cutting point 29 to form a semi-cylindrical or substantially hook-shaped fulcrum member 30 adapted to engage the lower` edge of the head 9 of a can when the tool is placed in operating Position.

Instead of forming the piercing prong as a separate element of the tool, I may, if desired, make the same out of the material from the cutter head. as shownin Figs. 6 and '7. In this embodiment of the invention, the piercing prong 3l is struck up, adjacent a central longitudinal line of the tool, from the metal of the cutter head. The prong in this embodiment, like in those heretofore described, will, of course, be beveled as above explained to provide a sharp cutting or piercing point 32.

To puncture and open a container, the tool is grasped by its handle I0 and positioned, as shown in Fig. l, with the fulcrum pin I or member 30 engaging the lower edge of the container seam l. The tool is then swung about the container rim, both the handle and punch proper describing an arcuate path of movement, the former an upward movement, and the latter a downward movement. At the start of this operation, the prong 20 or 3| will puncture the top of the can and permit the gas and liquid to iiow upwardly therefrom. As the gas and/or liquid spurts upwardly from the can it will be deflected by the imperforate forward portion of the cutter head I2 or blade 24. Continued upward movement of the handle Il will then cause the sharp point I4 or 29 of the tool to penetrate the top amas l.

pouring opening therein. From the foregoing description and the accompanying drawing, it will be apparent that I have devised a simple and inexpensive can opener which is highly eillcient in controlling the upwardly directed spray usually created when opening cans of beer and the like.

It will also be observed that my improved can opener may be 4employed i'or puncturing vent openings in cans containing various materials, such as milk and the like. In that case, the handle is swung upwardly only to an extent suflicient to cause the piercing prong or spur 20, 3i to puncture the can top adjacent the side wall of the container.

It is believed the construction and advantages of my invention may be readily understood from the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, and that modiiications may be made in the details disclosed, without departing from the spirit of the invention. as expressed in the claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent document is:

1. A device for producing a dispensing opening in a wall of a container having projecting seams, comprising a handle, a cutting blade arranged at one end oi said handle and having a cutting point adapted to cut a pouring opening in said container, substantially hook-shaped fulcrum means on the handle, spaced from the cutting point and adapted to engage under a container seam while the device is rocked over said seam, and piercing means arranged between of the can and cut a substantially V-shaped the cutting point and said fulcrum means andY extending beyond an imaginary line drawn from the cutting point to said fulcrum means whereby to puncture said container before the cutting point comes into contact with the container wall, the cutting blade being imperforate between its cutting point and said piercing means.

2. A device for producing a dispensing opening in a wall of a container having projecting seams, comprising a handle, a cutter head arranged at one end of said handle and having side edges that converge forward to a sharp pointed apex adapted to cut a pouring opening in said container, substantiallyhook-shaped fulcrum means on said handle, spaced inwardly from said cutter head and adapted to engage under a container seam while said device is rocked over said seam, and piercing means arranged between the point-,- ed apex and said fulcrum means and extending beyond the plane between said apex and said fulcrum means, whereby when the device is rocked over said seam, the piercing means will puncture said container before the pointed apex comes into contact with said container, the cutting head being imperforate between its pointed apex and the piercing prong.

3. A device for producing a dispensing opening in a wall of a container having projecting seams, comprising a handle, a cutter head arranged at one end of said handle and having side edges that converge forward to a sharp pointed apex adapted to cut a pouring opening in said container, substantially hook-shaped fulcrum means on said handle, spaced inwardly from said cutter head and adapted to engage under a container seam while said device is rocked over said seam, and a piercing prong secured to said cutter head and arranged between the pointed apex and said fulcrum means and extending beyond the plane between said apex and said fulcrum terminating in an arcuately curved cutter punch having an apex, a substantially hook-shaped fulcrum means on said handle spaced inwardly lo from said cutter punch for engaging under a container seam while said punch is rocked over said seam, and a piercing prong depending from 'said cutter punchQspaced from said fulcrum means, and extending beyond an imaginary line 15 drawn from the apex of the cutter punch to said tulcrum means, whereby when the punch is rocked over the container seam, the piercing prong will puncture said container before the cutter punch comes into contact with said container, the cutter punch being imperforate between its pointed apex and the piercing prong.

5. A container punch, comprising a handle terminating in an arcuately curved cutter punch having an apex, a substantially hooked-shaped 25 fulcrum means on said handle spaced from said cutter punch for engaging under a container seam while said punch is rocked over said seam, and a piercing prong struck from and depending from said cutter punch and spaced from said iulcrum means, said prong extending beyond an imaginary line drawn from the apex o! the cutter punch to said fulcrum means, whereby when the punch is rocked over the container seam, the piercing prong will puncture said container before the cutter punch comes into contact with said container, the cutter punch being imperforate between its pointed apex and the piercing prong.

6. A container punch comprising a handle 40 terminating in an arcuately curved cutter head, fulcrum means depending from the handle and spaced inwardly from the cutter head, and adapted to engage under a container seam while said punch is rocked over said seam, a cutting blade for said cutter head, said cutter head and said blade being provided with aligned apertures, and a piercing prong extending through said apertures for securing said blade to said cutter head, and adapted to puncture the container before the blade comes in contact with said. container when the punch is rocked over the container seam.

7. A container punch comprising a handle terminating in an arcuately curved cutter head, 55 l fulcrum means depending from the handle and spaced inwardly from the cutter head, and adapted to engage under a container seam while said punch is rocked over said seam, a cutting blade for said cutter head, said cutter head and said blade being provided with aligned apertures, a piercing prong extending through said apertures for securing said blade to said cutter head, and adapted to puncture'the container before the blade comes in contact with said container 65 when the punch is rocked over the container seam, and means on said handle for preventing the blade from turning about the piercing prong.

8. A container punch comprising a handle terminating in an arcuately curved cutter head, 70 an arcuately curved cutter blade secured to said head and having a cutting point adapted to cut a pouring opening in the container, substantially hook-shaped fulcrum means on said cutting blade adapted to engage under a container seam u While the punch is rocked overl said seam, and a piercing prong arranged between the cutting point and said fulcrum means and extending beyond an imaginary linedrawn from the cutting point to the fulcrum means, whereby to puncture the container before the cutting point comes into contact with said container when the punch' is rockedover the container seam, the cutter blade being imperforate between its cutting point and said piercing prong.

9. A device for producing a dispensing opening in a wall of a container having projecting seams, comprising a handle, a cutting point onv said handle adapted to cut a pouring opening in said container, substantially hook-shaped fulcrum means on said handle adapted to engage under a container seamV while the device is rocked over said seam. and a prong secured to said handle and arranged between the cutting point and said tulcrum means, said prong having a beveled surface to provide a sharp piercing point extending beyond the -plane between the` cutting point of the handle and said fulcrum means, whereby when the device is rocked over the container seam said piercing prong will puncture the container before the cutting point ot the handle comes into contact with said container, said handle being imperforate between its cutting point and said prong.

VALENTINE C. LUPPERT. 

